Vegan
Japanese
Organic
Delivery
Take-out
Fusion
Gluten-free
Vegan Japanese restaurant est. 2008 on the third level of downtown's Little Tokyo Shopping Center which has parking. The menu features a variety of refreshing beverages and vegetable sushi rolls, plus salads, ramen, seitan entrees, and other creations. Intimate setting. Reported closed April 2024.
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333 S Alameda St Unit 310, Los Angeles, California, USA, 90013
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- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 12 Apr 2024 by shojin
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Added by eric on 14 Jan 2008
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130 Reviews
First Review by button
halyse
Points +65
One of my favorite restaurants in all of LA - Edit
I love this place! Vegan sushi is definitely my all-time favorite food and although this place doesn’t do vegan “seafood“ sushi it’s still so good. Everything is organic, healthy and delicious. I love to order the spicy and crunchy platter with a Saturday night fever roll, and a mushroom miso. The staff is so sweet and polite and really treat you like royalty. It’s a little on the pricey side but totally worth it!
Read moreGuest
coleweso123
Points +124
Not the best sushi place - Edit
The atmosphere of the restaurant is very intimate and I loved that. The sushi itself left something to be desired. We ordered takeout and waited for over 2 hours. We were allowed to come sit inside and were given a free drink which was nice but the food was not worth the wait.
Read moreGuest
cyle
Points +588
My favorite restaurant in the world - Edit
I've been going to Shojin since early college (2007 or 2008ish?) when the head of my Japanese department at CSUN, also a vegan, recommended it. It is my favorite restaurant in the world. I've taken loved ones, colleagues, first dates, friends and anybody who will accompany me there. Their employees are always so friendly and, while we aren't intimately close, over the years I've become familiar with and fond of many of them. I moved away during the pandemic and so haven't seen them in a while, but very much looking forward to having a homecoming meal.
Read moreThe dessert chef Kie is phenomenal. She makes a green tea mousse that can literally make me cry, which includes inside it mochi and red bean, as well as coconut cream. Emotionally, I can't handle that mousse, but I eat it every time it's available nonetheless, because the pain it inflicts on my soul hurts way too good. She had her own dessert shop, Pomegranate, for a while which unfortunately didn't work out (I blame the location), but I believe she still (hopefully) creates her amazing desserts for Shojin. She also used to make ice cream at pomegranate that was to die for, which you could buy by the pint, and I seem to recall seeing it making an occasional special appearance at the restaurant. Additionally, she's known for her very little cookies, which are pleasantly understated and linger with you if you let them and don't just gobble them down. The sesame is one of my faves.
Shojin is the first place I found that destroyed any notion that vegan sushi couldn't be just as good as or better than non-vegan. Their sushi rolls are masterpieces and they are the OGs. Right before we left LA we ordered a ton of sushi for my boyfriend's birthday. Early pandemic they were personally driving around LA delivering food to people all over the city. We were in North Hollywood! That's a drive and these people are total love. We tried to make sure to order a lot to make it worth it. It was a memorable day.
They really understand flavor and texture and quality of ingredients. There are a lot of great vegan Japanese restaurants around the world now, but Shojin still leads the pack. The only one I've found that's on par (imo) is New York's Michelin-starred Kajitsu, which offers a totally different experience from Shojin, in the sense that they cannot be compared head to head, and each one can excel in its own lane.
I love this restaurant and will always love this restaurant.
Updated from previous review on 2022-05-21
Pros: Best Japanese sushi, Best desserts, Green tea mousse
Cons: Nothing. It's worth every penny.
Guest
tinam001
Points +39
This is THE BEST Vegan restaurant in LA! - Edit
Try the spicy ‘scallop’ roll, the soft ‘crab’ rolls (mu absolute fav) and…well, everything is amazing. Owner and staff are SO nice. They make you feel like family! Been going here for about 14 years!
Read morePros: Something for everyone, Drinks are great (they have non-alcoholic too), The staff cares
Guest
vcassel
Points +48
Best Vegan Sushi Ever - Edit
Sick of avocado and cucumber rolls? This place is for you. Great date spot sorta weirdly placed in a mall.
Read moreGuest
Jōjia_Momo
Points +507
Most formal vegan restaurant experience.. - Edit
We had just arrived in L.A. and saw that the only vegan restaurant open was Shojin. We were incredibly thankful to have found somewhere to eat after travelling. I had never been to Little Tokyo and I absolutely loved it.
Read moreYou are immediately greeted and treated like a guest in a Japanese home, very respectfully. My chair was pulled out for me and my coat was taken. I had the best vegan sushi I had ever had. The pot stickers were delicious to start our meal.
Updated from previous review on 2016-03-23
Pros: Formal Dining Experience, Friendly Staff, Large Menu
Cons: Pricey
Guest
KelceySaunders
Points +78
So good! - Edit
Everything is vegan and gluten free! I was in heaven! Everything I tried was delicious. It is a pretty intimate setting so it would be great for a date!
Read moreGuest
SanFranvegan
Points +148
Pretty but miss the mark - Edit
Considered one of the best vegan restaurants in LA. The presentation was pretty but they relied on frying more than I would like. There were small problems that one wouldn’t expect from an expensive restaurant. Requiring a minimum 20% tip seems excessive.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-06-03
Pros: Pretty presentation
Cons: Expensive, Napkins smelled, Too greasy
Guest
TerinaCeleste
Points +145
Bad service - Edit
Disappointed because I traveled far to come here. They don’t allow people to come in and wouldnt give a reason and also don’t allow to go orders. I assume it’s exclusive and only reservations but they didn’t even explain that to us. Just told us to leave.
Read morePros: Unknown
Guest
teabell
Points +301
One of the best sushi meals I have EVER HAD EVER - Edit
The whole experience and place is incredible! One of my fav places in LA! Sushi and flavours are OUT OF THIS WORLD. Highly, highly recommend. Can’t love it enough.
Read morePros: Love it, Incredible authentic experience and space , Take me back weekly please
Guest
Coldbringer
Points +115
One of the best meals I’ve ever had. - Edit
The food here is art pure and simple.
Read morePros: It’s art!
Cons: Expensive
Guest
MimiAbramik
Points +26
Yum! - Edit
My first time having vegan sushi, was really tasty!
Read moreGuest
veganmightymouse
Points +140
It’s all about the crab rolls - Edit
Healthiest and best tasting vegan food!
Read moreGlorious and amazing fresh ingredients made from a passionate chef!
Pros: Amazing tasting food
Cons: Wish they had more locations
Guest
WisdomByMiriam
Points +100
So flavorful - Edit
Completely vegan Japanese restaurant. I think their menu may be different at the moment due to the pandemic, but I'm not sure. Nonetheless, it was really really yummy. Everything is so flavorful. The orange chicken is fabulous as is the cucumber roll. It is packed with flavor. I got the ramen with the vegan egg. I don't know what they do to that egg, but it tasted like the real thing. Go here, you won't be disappointed.
Read morePros: Totally vegan. Food packed with flavor.
Cons: None!
Guest
marjolaine
Points +162
Yummy!! - Edit
Delicious vegan sushi is hard to find and this one is worth the wait!
Read moreGuest
le_pamplemuse
Points +38
Exemplary Cuisine/Service - Edit
This is a superb restaurant. Make a reservation and you'll be glad that you did. The service is extremely nice- Baskets for items, spread your napkin over your lap, clear table as soon as plates are finished. The taste is beyond satisfaction. Such a gem. Worth the money.
Read morePros: Real Food (no faux), Tasty
Guest
charlie-bird
Points +1222
Great Japanese food, organic and vegan! - Edit
Vegan Japanese food is not very common, and this one is amazing! The flavors are so tasty.
Read moreThis is authentic Japanese cuisine, and goes beyond just sushi (even though of course they also have that).
Guest
veghead420
Points +16
so good!! - Edit
i got a take out here and it was quick and delicious. got the pumpkin roll with some kind of sauce on it and avocado tempura salad.. amazing. it’s also gluten & nut free which is perfect for me bc of allergies!
Read moreGuest
misschrnc
Points +78
Better than fish sushi - Edit
The sushi was very delicious and the chef got creative with it. I really enjoyed their sushi. The atmosphere was nice too, dim and quiet.
Read morePros: Food tastes good, Doesn't make you wish you ate fish sushi, Tasty
Cons: A little wait
Guest
Bird215
Points +241
Fine dining and good food - Edit
In a mall. Good food
Read morePros: Good food, Good options
Guest
heathenvegan
Points +737
Amazing food in a mall! - Edit
The food was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely despite the restaurant being located inside a mall. Once you’re inside you forget you’re in a mall.
Read morePros: All vegan food and delicious , Staff attentive and warm, Validate parking
Cons: Lil pricy but the food is quality
Guest
laurasremedies
Points +58
Excellent vegan Japanese restaurant in LA! - Edit
Shojin Organic & Natural serves deliciously vegan Japanese food. It is now one of two of my favorite restaurants in the world (the other one being Hangawi in NYC, on the other side of the country). The staff is perfectly Japanese; the offerings are incredibly varied in taste, texture, and beauty; the space feels clean and light. The food is so amazingly good I wish we could visit LA more often. This is a very special restaurant. Just remembering our meal there makes my mouth water.
Read morePros: excellent and delicious vegan Japanese food, very polite waitstaff, beautiful little restaurant
Cons: It is located in LA and I live in Maine!
Guest
MyhrtKookie
Points +64
Incredible dishes - Edit
Love the settings relaxed, comfortable
Read morePros: Awesome organic , Fresh vegan , Macrobiotic
Cons: Don’t judge from the complex that it’s located in, Once you get inside your in zen
Guest
tonyakay
Points +3666
Delicate Japanese cuisine - Edit
I can’t rave enough about Shojin. This is the food that’s worth it. Organic, vegan, macrobiotic, gluten-free, nut-free. Inside an interesting J Town shopping mall right next to a booming arcade. But then you slide through their entry curtain and it’s a whole new world with four servers at your table, beautiful art on the walls. They play bass nova and jazz mostly. The food. The sake cocktails. The people - I was at their opening years ago and am just delighted they have grown and fed so many people the healthy vegan cuisine. Highly recommended.
Read morePros: Gluten free, Nut free, Amazing staff
Guest
Sarrie
Points +151
Good - Edit
I thought the food was amazing! I really loved the atmosphere and it felt like a fancy restaurant.
Read moreI went alone and it took a little while for the server to come by with the check, but I guess it was busy.
My only real complaint is it was so expensive and the drink I got was amazing but expensive for a small portion!
Pros: Great food, Great atmosphere, Friendly employees
Cons: Expensive, Some items are small portions
Guest
ShaliniChakrabarty
Points +1574
ambiance - Edit
This place is okay, I came here for my birthday. By far the fanciest vegan place I have ever been to. But the food was just okay, definitely was not worth the price. After spending over $100, my boyfriend and I were still hungry... great for the experience but wouldn’t come and expect to be full 😂
Read morePros: Ambiance was fancy and felt luxurious , Reimbursed parking
Cons: expensive
Guest
Azelea
Points +272
What can I say - Edit
I would agree with most of the other reviews, great service, over priced. Too much vegan mayo...
Read morePros: All vegan, Pretty
Cons: Expensive , Too much mayo , Most rolls are spicy
Guest
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